Removable roof and screen top for cottages



1941 H. H. WENNEBORG REMOVABLE ROOF AND SCREEN TOP FOR COTTAGES FiledJuly 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jmzs, 1941.

H. H. WENNEBORG W REMOVABLE ROOF AND SCREEN TOP FOR COTTAGES Filed July1, 1958 2 Sheets-Shet? Llttorneg Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE REMOVABLE ROOF AND SCREEN TOP FOR COTTAGES 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in housing and especially to smallbuildings; an object being in my invention to provide for small cottagessuch as camp cottages, tourist cottages and the like or for smalldwellings, certain conveniences which may be utilized as valuablefacilities adapted to contribute measurably to the health and comfort ofthose occupying such buildings.

A purpose of my invention is to provide a removable roof and a removablescreen adjustably supported beneath the roof of such housingconstruction so that the interior of such a building may be subjected tothe direct sunlight any time that it is desired to do so.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide a removable roof forhealth protecting cottages wherever they may be, as well as a removablescreen supported in the space commonly occupied by a ceiling over a roomcovered by such a roof and to provide in connection with such a roofconstruction, such means as may be needed for running water over such aroof to keep it cool on hot days.

A particular purpose of my invention is to provide a roller supportedroof and top screen for small cottages wherein the construction thereofwill permit a quick and convenient removal of the roof from over suchcottages where it can be rolled to one side with or without such ascreen to admit, when desired, the full strength of a health givingsunlight into the room or rooms of such a cottage and wherein theoccupants of the cottage may, in privacy, expose their bodies to a sunbath and where, if desired, the strength of such sunlight may besomewhat reduced by not removing the screen from over the room; while inaddition to this convenience, I am providing a water pipe with anautomatic shut-off, adapted to run water over the roof when desired forkeeping the same cool.

I attain the objects of my invention by the features of improvementdescribed in this specification, recited in the claim and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeparts in the several figures.

Referring to the figures:

ig. 1 is a perspective of my invention with the removable roof in properplace.

Fig. 2 is a side view of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the roller mounting support for myremovable roof and the removable screen.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of my invention showing the roof rolled out ofplace and showing a ceiling screen still registering over the room inthe cottage.

Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the preferred construction of rollersupport for my removable roof and removable screen.

Referring to some of the essential operating details of my invention andto the advantages derived from utilizing the same, I shall point out thesalient features thereof as I refer to the drawings, wherein a smallcottage l which may be provided with needed windows 2 and doors 3 and aroof 4 which is preferably supported upon run-ways 5 and 6 by rollers l,8, 9 and Ill.

This roof 4 normally covers and protects cottage I but can be removed atwill by rolling the same out on to run-ways 5 and 6 until the cottageroom I I, defined by the walls of the cottage, is uncovered.

It is obvious that more than one type of device may be used forcontrolling the movement of roof 4 when out on to run-ways 5 and 6 but Iam illustrating a pull rope l2 adapted to be secured to roof 4 forcontrolling movements of the same so that rope l2 may be pulled one wayor the other when removing or returning the roof.

Since it is the purpose of my invention to be able to roll the roof offof the cottage at will to expose the interior of the cottage to thesunlight then it will be noted that ceiling screen member 13 movablysupported by rollers l4, l5, l6 and I! operatively mounted on run-waysl8 and i9, may be effectively utilized as a means of reducing theintensity of sunlight to which the room is exposed.

However, since the side walls 20 of the cottage are supporting roof 4 aswell as screen 13 then run-ways 5, 6, l8 and H) which respectively carrythe roof and screen, will be supported by walls 2i] as well as extensionarms 2| and 22 respectively, preferably held up by support members 23and 24.

One of the practical uses of my invention is to make it possible for theoccupants of such a cottage when desired to take a sun bath in theprivacy of their own home and by this novel construction, it will beseen that if desired, a mild sun bath may be taken by leaving screen I3in place, while, if it is desired to take a sun bath in the fullstrength of the sunlight, then screen 83 may be rolled from its ceilingposition over the cottage room I I out under the removed roof, thusadmitting the full strength of sunlight down into room ll.

It is also conceivable that one of the very great benefits of myinvention for such cottages as may provide living quarters for peoplewill be found in the fact that the interior of the cottage may besubjected to the purifying rays of the sunlight at any time that it ispractical to do so, to thus provide a thoroughly healthful sanitarymeasure for the protection of its occupants.

It is also obvious that where climatic conditions will permit it will bea practical and desirable practice to remove the roof and screen onmoonlight nights to rest and sleep in the moonlight.

Wherever it may be desired a platform 25 may be provided for the supportof chairs, cots and the like out in the cool shade under roof 4 when thesame is rolled out off of cottage I.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that a water pipe 26 is provided fordelivering water out of the mouth 21 thereof down onto the top crest 28of roof 4 so that the water may run out over all four of the slopingsurfaces 29, 30, 3| and 32 thereof.

This pipe 26 has a shut-off valve 33 at the base thereof and also asecond shut off valve 34 up under the edge of roof 4 to permit roof 4 toautomatically shut 01f the water which might be running on the topthereof, the instant that roof 4 starts to be moved out off of cottageI.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that I am providing a rope 35 and a ropeanchor 36 for moving screen l3 when it is rolled out on its supportingrunways l8 and I9 off of cottage I.

It will be found practical, if desired, to utilize a glass ceiling inplace of the screen I3 when sunbathing in winter and also if desired,the area covered by floor 25 may be screened in to provide a coolprotected place in summer for chairs and cots and the like for occupantsof the cottage.

In the study of the merits of my invention, it will be readily observedthat it will be of practical use in any one of a number of living conditions. For instance, for camping purposes, my removable roof andremovable screen ceiling construction will be found to be a greatadvantage to the health and happiness of the occupants. For touristcottages, this invention is very practical for the advantages that havebeen enumerated.

As a means of providing special facilities for for sun bathing, forsleeping outdoors under protection, a special cottage of small sizecould be provided in ones back yard provided with all the facilities ofthis invention.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

As a new product of manufacture, a cottage, having four upright wallswith windows and doors to define a housing, and comprising incombination, a removable roof extending over said walls when in normalposition and, a removable screen extending over the room defined by saidwalls and over said roof, a pair of parallel tracks secured to two ofsaid opposite walls adjacent the top edge thereof, and on the outsidesurface of each respectively, said tracks each shaped to define in Uformation one supporting surface therefor, and an integral rail for thesupport of rollers therefor; a second pair of parallel tracks like thefirst pair but each track respectively fixed on the inside of the samewalls supporting the outside tracks, said inside tracks each having onesurface for its support against said wall and an integral rail for thesupport of rollers, said rollers operating on said outside tracksestablishing support connection on the outside tracks for said roof andsaid rollers on the inside tracks respectively establishing supportconnection for said screen covering said room within said walls, anextension frame projection from each of said track supporting walls andan extension of said tracks operatively supported on said frame, saidextension frame anchored to said walls and provided with uprightsupports at its outer terminal; and means connected with said roof andsaid screen for manually rolling them off of said cottage and back onagain at will whereby said roof may be optionally removed horizontallyfrom its normal position covering said cottage walls, and whereby saidscreen may be likewise removed from its position over said cottage roomwhen it is desired and replaced at will by the manipulation of saidcontrol means.

HENRY H. WENNEBORG.

